Hydrogen production in Multi-Channel Membrane Reactor via Steam Methane Reforming and Methane Catalytic Combustion

A novel Multi-Channel Membrane Reactor (MCMR) was designed and built for the small-scale production of hydrogen via Steam Methane Reforming (SMR). The prototype alternates an SMR gas channel to produce hydrogen catalytically, with a Methane Catalytic Combustion (MCC) gas channel to provide the heat of reaction needed by the endothermic reforming. A palladium-silver membrane inside the reforming gas channel shifts the reaction equilibrium, allowing lower operating temperatures, and producing pure hydrogen in a single vessel. Using an innovative air-spray coating technique, channels were coated with Ru-MgO-La2O3/γ-Al2O3 and Pd/γ-Al2O3 catalyst particles for the SMR and MCC reactions, respectively. Results for the proof-of-concept MCMR showed that methane conversion in the reformer of 91% and a hydrogen purity in excess of 99.99% were possible with the reformer operating at 570 °C and 15 bar.